@into.space.7: The Moon is a tale of two halves. The side we see from Earth is darker and smoother, shaped by vast lava plains called maria that span hundreds of miles (kilometers) across. These formed when massive impacts billions of years ago cracked the surface, allowing molten rock to flood and solidify. In contrast, the far side is brighter, thicker, and densely covered in craters, with very few maria. This stark contrast of a two-faced world is known as the lunar dichotomy. One of the key differences lies beneath the surface. The Moon’s crust is significantly thinner on the near side — about 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 km) thick — compared to up to 60 miles (100 km) on the far side. That thinner crust made it easier for magma to reach the surface and create the dark plains we see today. The near side is also rich in heat-producing radioactive elements like thorium and potassium, concentrated in a region known as KREEP. Early in the Moon’s history, this extra heat likely fueled prolonged volcanic activity, reshaping the surface over hundreds of millions of years. Scientists are still debating why this imbalance exists. One leading idea is that a large impact or internal asymmetry early in the Moon’s formation set the two hemispheres on very different paths. For centuries, we only saw one face of the Moon. It wasn’t until 1959 that spacecraft revealed the far side — and with it, one of the Solar System’s most striking geological contrasts. Learn more: "The two-faced Moon." Planetary Society | #Moon #LunarDichotomy #Space #Geology #Science @Into.space

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Monday 13 April 2026 00:09:55 GMT